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Take Action Do you shop at Fred Meyer? Last week we told you about some problems both IBEW and the rest of the building trades, and UFCW, are having with Fred Meyer. We're not asking you to not shop there, but we do have one request: when you're shopping at Fred Meyer let the workers there know that you stand with them. Make sure that Fred Meyer knows that you're money is union money, and you're spending it there because they have a history of respecting their workers that you hope they'll continue. Convention Highlights The AFL-CIO Convention wrapped up in Bend on Tuesday, and over 300 delegates and guests headed home to locations from Hermiston to Astoria, Medford to Portland, and as close as right down the street in Bend. All the resolutions voted on at the convention passed easily, although a few were amended in committee. We'll have the final versions available in a few weeks. Some great speakers came to address the delegates, and we heard about national and local politics, the future of the labor movement, and got a better idea of what our options are in next year's gubernatorial election. Along with an amazing list of speakers, we had some important events and accomplishments. On Sunday we gave away our Legislator of the Year award. This award goes to an Oregon legislator who has gone above and beyond to stand up for Oregon's middle class, and all working people. It is very rare for this award to not go to a union member, since they already understand the issues that affect working people so intimately. But this year our Legislator of the Year is not a union member. Our highest scoring legislator, a strong advocate for working families and devoted defender of the middle class, who helped shepherd the Worker Freedom Act through the House and who voted for 100% of middle class legislation in 2009, and the AFL-CIO 2009 Legislator of the Year, is Representative Tina Kotek. Thank her for her hard work next time you see her around the Capitol or in her home district in North Portland. Also on Sunday union members interested in forming and joining constituent groups held a meeting. We came to the convention hoping that, by the end of the year, we would have two constituency groups formed. There was unexpected interest in forming chapters of other constituency groups as well, and a commitment from many delegates in the room to have regular meetings of members representing all of the constituency groups to look at their role in Oregon's union movement. Monday morning we heard from President Chamberlain about the state of Oregon's labor movement and the great potential we have moving forward, and then learned about an exciting new campaign that will be kicked off in the coming month. Look for some changing logos and designs, and expect more information soon! Late Monday afternoon delegates flooded back into the convention hall to vote on a series of resolutions. One important vote endorsed ballot measures 66 and 67, which will be on the ballot in January and will help make our tax system more fair for middle class Oregonians. Tuesday, after the convention ended, about one third of convention attendees - over 100 people - made their way to the Bend Fred Meyer for a short rally that we hope sent a strong message: wherever Fred Meyer is located across Oregon, there are union members and other hard working Oregonians who believe in working together to improve our economy; wherever Fred Meyer is located, there are Oregonians who make their shopping choices based, in part, on whether or not they want to support a specific store; wherever Fred Meyer is located in Oregon they have gained costumers for their past practices of supporting their community and respecting their employees. If they stop valuing community and their workers we will respond. It was a fast, exciting, convention, with far more attendees than we expected. Here's to hoping everyone had a great time, and we look forward to seeing even more of you at convention in two years. In Other News... What Are These Spooky Ballot Measures?! With Halloween around the corner, little ghosts and goblins will soon be roaming the streets looking for treats. At the same time, the corporate lobbyists opposed to Measures 66 and 67 are also out, trying to frighten Oregonians with scare tactics and ghost stories of their own. Here are some ways you can make sure your neighbors aren't tricked by the corporate lobbyists' spooooky tactics:
The Weekly Update is created by the Oregon AFL-CIO. President: Tom Chamberlain |
